Tank for developing photographic films



W. C. MOTTERAM.

v TANK FOR DEVELOPING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS.

Patented, Feb. 1, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21. I319.

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\ ATTORNEY.

W. C. MUHERAM.

TANK FOR DEVELOPiNG PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM S.

' APPLICATION FILE D MAR. 21. 1319. 1,367,074. Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Jg a (Fig-4.

INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

W. C. MOIIERAM;

TANK FOR DEVELOPING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2!, I319.

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- INVENTOR. MMQWG W A TTORNEY.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. MOTTERATII, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TANK FOR DEVELOPING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS.

Application filed March 21,

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. Mor- TERAM, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Tanks for Developing Photographic Films, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object generally to simplify the construction of tanks of the character herein disclosed, as far as is practical, so that the cost of the manufacture thereof may be reduced to a minimum; also so that the device may be more easily operated and so that the probability of any portion thereof getting out of order is reduced.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby a portion of the meansfor spacing and holding the photographic films within the tank is embodied within or is fastened to the casing of the tank and is not adapted to be separated therefrom in the operation and use of the device.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the spacing and guiding means for properly holding and spacing the lower end portions of the films within the tank may be adjusted toward and from each other, thereby adapting the device for use in connection with films of different widths.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the film pack casing which is adapted to be inserted into the tank at one side of the casing thereof is held against lateral movement during the operation of breaking away a side portion of the film pack in order that the films may be pulled therefrom.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be pointed out and referred to in the detailed description thereof which follows or will be apparent from such description.

In order that my invention may be readily understood and its practical advantages from a commercial standpoint more fully appreciated, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated one formof a convenient embodiment thereof. It will be understood, however, that my invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms of construction within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Feb. 1, 1921.

1919. Serial No. 284,138.

tional view of a casing constructed in accordance with my invention, certain of the parts employed therein being shown in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 5, certain of the parts therein being shown in different position from that in which they are shown in Fig. 1, and certain of the parts also being shown in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view showing a film pack casing partly in edge elevation and partly in trans verse longitudinal section, the lower end portion of the film pack therein being shown and the upper holding device for engaging and holding the tabs of the films being shown in transverse section;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation looking toward the right in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the casing with the top cover removed;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a grated, plate-like member constituting a part of the top holding device shown in section in Fig. 3 of the drawing;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a transverse, sectional view of the parts enlarged and showing a detail of construction Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7 with the parts enlarged and showing the details of construction;

Fig. 10 is a view in elevation of the inside of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing additional parts of the structure;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a comb member constituting a part of the member for holding the upper end portions of the films; and

Fig, 13 is a side elevation, in reduced size, of the tank provided with a lid or cover.

Referring to the drawings: 1 designates a tank having lining plates 2, 3 and 4 upon the interior of three of the sides thereof. The opposite edges of the plates 2 and i are situated a short distance from the adjacent opposing sides of the tank, in order to form guiding slots 5 and 6 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully pointed out. The upper ends of the plates 2, 3 and l terminate a short distance below the upper end of the tank and constitute supporting means for the top member of the film holding means. The said film holding means comprises an outer frame member 10, the center of which is open as is indicated, particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawings. At, its inner edge the said frame is provided with a shoulder 11 upon which is supported the grated or slotted member 12, the latter being provided with a shoulder as indicated at 13, extending around the edges thereof, which shoulder engages the shoulder 11, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The grated or slotted member 12 is provided with an upwardly extending flange 15 which extends entirely around the edge thereof and within which, when the device is in use, is seated a comb member 17, the ends of the teeth of which are tapered as indicated in dotted. lines in Fig. 5 and in full lines in Fig. 12, Where the said comb is separately shown.

The grates or bars of the member 12 are tapered downwardly as shown in Fig. 3, to facilitate the insertion of the ends of the tabs 20 of the films 21 through the slots between the said grates.

These slots are relatively wide as compared with the thickness of the tabs, and in order to secure and hold the tabs in place it is necessary that a member having relatively narrow slots be engaged with the said tabs. For this purpose I have provided the comb 17. After the tabs have been inserted through the slots of the grate member 12, as is indicated in Fig. 3, the comb is placed in position with a tab between each two adj acent teeth thereof.

In placing the comb in engagement with these tabs, the edges of the tabs are inserted between the tapered ends of the teeth and the comb is then moved so as to completely engage the tabs, after which it is placed in positionwithin the flange l5. Thereafter the lid 22 is placed in position as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be understood, of course, that before the tabs 20 are threaded through the slots of the holder as above described, the film pack 23 is placed in a filin pack holder or casing 24 which in turn is inserted upwardly through the opening 25 in the longitudinal frame structure 10.

After the casing 24 has been thus placed in position within the opening 25, the tabs are inserted as above described.

This is accomplished while the holder, including the parts 10, 12, 17 and 22, are outside of the casing 1. After the holder and the casing24 have been asembled as shown in Fig. 3, the holder is then inserted into the casing 1 in the manner indicated in Fig. l of the drawing. with the frame 10 resting upon the upper ends of the plates 2, 3 and 4. The film pack casing 24 is provided with flan es 25 at its 0 posite edges. which en- PJ t.

gage the guide slots 5 shown in Fig. 7.

The film pack casing is provided at one side of one end portion with a portion 26 swingingly connected by means of a hinge 27 to a side of the casing. The lower end of the said swinging part 26 is provided with a curved plate portion 30 which, when the member 26 is in closed position, extends across the lower end of the film pack casing 24 to more completely close the same to prevent or bar the light from entering the tank through the said film pack casing. The lower or outer side of the said closing member 30 is curved and forms a guide around which the films pass as they are drawn from the film pack. The swinging member 26 is provided at its lower end with projecting trunnion-like parts 31 which extend into slots formed in the opposite side plates 2 and which slots are provided with angularly related portions After the tab hoider and the film pack casing 24 have been inserted into position in the upper end of the tank, the said casing moved downwardly. The projecting trunnion portions 31 engage the upper inwardly inclined portions of the angular parts 34 of the cam slot so that the member 26 is caused to swing inwardly as shown in Fi In movin into such )0- sition, it effects the breaking open of the film pack by reason of the engagement of a hook portion 35 with the lower edge of a side portion of the film pack. After the film pack has been moved into the position shown in Fig. l, the tabs are pulled outwardly in the manner of the first six of the films so that the films are completely removed from the film pack. Thereafter the casing 24 together with the film pack therein is moved downwardly into the position shown in Fig.

of the drawing.

In order to further insure that no light shall enter the tank through the film pack casing 24, I have provided a baffle plate upon the inside of the lower end portion of the said tank.

After the casing 24 has been moved down into the position shown in Fig. 2, the spacing guides and holding members and 46 are moved into position to cause the inwardly projecting teeth upon the inner side of the said spacing guides to engage the edges of the films. Such inward movement is effected by means of movable pins 47 and 48., These pins are supported in slots 50 in the member 12 and are secured to sliding plates 51 which plates and pins arenor- :nally held in their outermost position by means of springs 52, the inner ends of which engage the said plates 51 and press the same outwardly.

The said pins 47 and 48 are held in such position that when the film holder comprising the member 12 is placed in position as in Fig. l, the lower ends of said pins engage holes 55 in the upper sides of adjustable members or blocks 56 which are slidably supported in the channel member 57, secured at its center to the vertically arranged movable narrow plate 60 which is supported in the vertically arranged channel member 61, secured to a side of the tank casing 1 as shown. The opposite ends of the channel member 57 are provided with outwardly extending projections 62 which extend into the guide channels 6. These projections 62 move up and down in these channels as the member 60 and the channel member 57 are moved up and down in the tank. The oppositely disposed spacing and guiding members 45 and 46 are adjustably secured to and supported by the members 56, the latter being provided with holes 65, as indicated, for the reception of the ends of pins 66 which are carried upon the ends of the said members 45 and 46. By placing these pins in different holes 65 in the adjustable blocks or members 56, the said members 45 and 46 may be adjusted toward or from each other. In the position as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the members 45 and 46 are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the films 21. After the latter have been drawn from the film pack and depend vertically into the tank from the upper film holder, the members 45 and 46 are moved inwardly by taking hold of the pins 47 and 48. When the said members 56 are moved inwardly the inner ends of spring pressed pins 7 0 carried upon the inner end portions of the adjustable blocks or members 56 are brought into positions at the upper ends of cam surfaces 71, in which positions the teeth of the members 45 and- 46 occupy positions upon opposite sides of the edges of the films 21. Thereafter the members 45 and 46 are moved downwardly by means of the narrow plate 60 which is shown in Fig. 1 in elevated of said plates, spacing and guiding means position. The downward movement of the said plate 60 carries with it the spacing and guiding members 45 and 46. The pins 70, as the lower spacing and guiding holders move downwardly, snap underneath the lower ends of the cam members 75, there being two of said members.

After the spacing and guiding members have been moved into their lowermost positions, as indicated in Fig. 2, the developing solution may be poured into the tank through the film pack casing 24. If it is desired that the tank shall be moved into different positions, upon its side or into an inverted position, a lid 80 should be employed to close the said tank.

After the film shall have been subjected as long as is desired to the action of the developing solution, the upper holding mem' ber, comprising parts 12, 17 and 22, together with the film pack casing 24, may be removed and the films removed from the said holder. Thereafter the spacing and guiding members 45 forspacing and holding the lower end portions of the films may be moved toward the top of the tank, to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, by means of the narrow adjusting metallic p ate 60.

In moving upwardly the inner ends of the pins 70 strike the lower outwardly inclined surfaces of the cam member 75, whereby outward movement of the adjustable blocks or members 56 is effected so as to carry the opening 55 therein into position to receive the lower ends of the pins 47 and 48. As the plate 60 continues its upward movement the pins 70 strike the cam surfaces 83 which effect inward movement of the said pins 70 and which pins, due to the influence of the springs 84, snap over the upper ends of the cam member 75 into the positions shown in Figs, 7 and 9.

In the construction as illustrated, it will be observed that the lower spacing and guiding members 45 and 46, together with the parts associated therewith and by means of which said parts 45 and 46 are adjusted and operated, are, as it were, built into the tank and are not intended to be separated therefrom in the use of the device. In the use of the device only the upper film holding member is intended or adapted to be removed from the tank.

It will be further noted that I have pro vided means whereby the members 45 and 46 may be adjusted so as to accommodate films of different widths.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a tank for developing photographic films, a casing having plates upon the inner sides thereof which terminate a distance below the upper end of said tank, a film holder which is adapted to rest upon the upper ends for engaging and holding the lower portions of the films within the tank, and means for adjusting the said spacing and guiding means toward and from each other.

2. In a tank for developing photographic films, the combination of a casing, a holder for the upper end portions of such films, said holder being adapted to be placed within the upper end portion of the said tank, spacing and guiding means within the said tank and connected thereto for engaging the opposite edges of said films for spacing and holding the same, and means for adjusting the said spacing and holding means.

3. In a tank for developing photographic films, the combination of an upper holding member for holding the upper ends of said films within the tank, guiding and holding means situated within and connected to the said tank, which guiding and holding means normally are situated a distance" apart greater than the width of the said film, means for adjusting the said guiding and holding means to cause the same to engage the opposite edges of the said films, and means for moving the said holding and guiding means toward the bottom of said tank.

4. In a tank for developing photographic films, the combination of a casing, a holder for holding the upper ends of films within the casing, said holder having movable pins connected thereto, movable devices within the said tank adapted to engage the opposite edges of the said films for spacing and holding the same, said devices having holes therein which are adapted to receive the lower ends of the said pins when the member for holding the upper ends of the films is placed within the tank, whereby the said devices may be moved inwardly into engagement with the opposite edges of the said films, and means for thereafter moving the said devices downwardly in the said tank to hold the lower ends of the said films in spaced relation with respect to each other.

5. In a tank for developing photographic films, the combination of a casing, a holder for the upper ends of the films, said holder being adapted to be placed in the upper end of said casing, spacing and guiding devices Within the saidtank adapted to engage the opposite edges of the said films, a member connected to a side of the casing of the said tank, said member being adapted to be moved up and down in the said casing, and means for connecting the said spacing and guiding devices to the said member whereby the said devices may likewise be'moved up and down in the tank, substantially as described.

6. In a tank for developing photographic films, the combination of means for supporting the films at the upper end of the tank, spacing and guiding means for holding the lower end portions of the films in spaced relation to each other, means for connecting the said spacing and guiding means to a side of the said tank, means for moving the said spacing and guiding means up and down in the said tank, and means whereby the said spacing and guiding means may be adjusted toward and from each other, substantially as described.

7. In a tank for developingphotographic films, spacing and holding means within the tank for holding the said films in spaced relation with respect to each other, said spacing and holding means comprising mem bers situated within the said tank on opposite sides thereof in opposing relation to each other, the inner sides of said members being provided with notches, means for adj ustably supporting the said members, means whereby the said members may be moved toward and from each other, and means whereby the said members may be adjusted to different positions longitudinally of the said tank, substantially as described.

8. In a tank for developing photographic films, spacing and holding means comprising a supporting member, blocks adjustably connected to said supporting member, spacing and guiding members adjustably connected to said blocks, and means for adjustably supporting the said block supporting member within the said tank.

9. In a tank for developing photographic films, film supporting means within the said tank, said means comprising spacing and holding members arranged in opposing relation to each other upon opposite sides within the interior of the tank, means whereby the said spacing and holding means may be adjusted toward and from each other, said spacing and holding means normally occupying their outermost positions in the tank, a supporting device for the said spacing and holding means, means for adjusting the said supporting device up and down in the said tank, and means for automatically causing movement of the said spacing and holding means to their outermost positions in the said tank when they are moved upwardly from the bottom of the said tank or to their topmost positions, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. In a tank for developing photographic films, the combination of a casing, a holder adapted to be seated in the upper end of the casing for supporting and holding the upper end portions of the films, said holder comprising means for preventing access of light to the said tank, a film pack casing adapted to extend through a portion of said holder, the lower end of the said casing when in use within the tank occupying a position adjacent to the bottom of said tank, and means secured to the lower end of the said casing for practically closing the same to prevent access of light to the said tank.

11. In a tank for developing photographic films, the combination of a casing, a holder adapted to be seated in the upper end of the casing for supporting and holding the upper end portions of the films, said holder comprislng means for preventing access of light to the said tank, a film pack casing adapted to extend through a portion of said holder, the lower end of the said casing when in use within the tank occupying a position adjacent to the bottom of said tank, means secured to the lower end of the said casing for practically closing the same to prevent access of light to the said tank, and a battle plate secured to the bottom of the tank and extending transversely thereof adjacent the lower end of the said film pack casing, substantially as described. 7

In testimony that I claim the foregoin as my invention I have hereunto set my name this 17th day of March, A. D. 1919.

WILLIAM C. MOTTERAM. 

